Retooling of Mazda plant in Guanajuato will enable the facility to build crossovers

Mazda Motor Corporation confirmed to AutoNews (subscription required) that retooling its plant in Salamanca, Guanajuato, will begin in early 2019 to build the next-generation Mazda3. What’s even more interesting here is that the upgrade will enable the assembly facility in Central Mexico to manufacture crossovers if required.

Local media in Guanajuato has speculated for a while that the CX-3 will be assembled at the Salamanca site in the near future, based on the fact that the crossover is pinned on the same platform that the Mazda2 and its sibling, the Toyota Yaris sedan, which are also built in Mexico.

However, Mazda officials wouldn’t say if there’s plans to actually build crossovers in Mexico. But the upgrade simplifies future decisions. It also would help Mazda lift utilization rates at its Mexico plant, one of its few production centers operating below capacity.